Original paper

Genesis of hydrothermal stockwork-type magnesite deposits associated with ophiolite complexes in the Kutahya-Eskisehir region, Turkey

Ece, Ö. Işık; Matsubaya, Osamu; Coban, Fazlı

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen Band 181 Heft 2 (2005), p. 191 - 205

published: Apr 20, 2005

DOI: 10.1127/0077-7757/2005/0014

BibTeX file

ArtNo. ESP154018102007, Price: 29.00 €

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Abstract

We report field observations and C and O isotopic compositions of two magnesite deposits within the Lower Cretaceous Dagküplü ophiolite complex, Eskişehir-Kütahya region, Turkey, to help interpret their genetic significance. The Nemli and Margı deposits are large microcrystalline stockwork-type magnesite systems within the upper part of highly fractured and imbricated ultramafic complexes containing fresh dunite, harzburgite and serpentinite. Magnesite in ultramafic rocks occurs either as stockwork veins or as irregular masses. Centimeter-scale chalcedony bands are observed within magnesite veins. Some serpentinite fragments and platelets are rimmed by fibrous magnesite, indicating significant alteration of the host rock along the WNW – ESE trending Eskişehir fault zone, which is subparallel to the northern edge of Neogene lacustrine sediments. The magnesite deposits are related to tectonic activity along this fracture zone and Middle Miocene calc-alkaline volcanism.The magnesite samples have δ13CV-PDB values varying between -9.1 and -13.7 ‰, and δ18OV-SMOW values between + 25.6 and + 28.0 ‰. These data suggest that the mineralized fluids formed from highly evaporated Miocene lake water, which migrated through limestone and was heated by nearby hot dikes and volcanic rocks. These fluids then ascended through fractures to the surface. The intensity of magnesite veining can be correlated with the volume of fluid flow of evaporative lake waters, which had passed through fracture systems, and their CO2 contents. The CO2 in MgCO3 was derived from (1) decarboxylation of shale and phyllite enriched in organic matter, and (2) dissolution of limestone at high temperature about 2 km beneath the surface. Our data suggest that the circulation of CO2-rich geothermal waters between 65–80 °C converted serpentinite to magnesite and opal-CT in the highly fractured veins along the E–W trending main fault zone, which runs subparallel to the Tethyan suture zone.

Keywords

nemli • margi • c and o isotopes • magnesite • suture zone